Similar to last week’s ZOZO Championship in Japan, a limited field of 78 players will contest the sixth edition of the tournament that started life in South Korea before two years in Las Vegas with no cut and 72 holes of strokeplay.

With the Tour returning stateside, a strong field have assembled before the big names begin to wind down their playing schedules toward the end of the year with six of the top-10 on the world rankings and 15 of the top-20 teeing it up this week.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Rory McIlroy won his 20th PGA Tour title last year at The Summit Club despite a final round charge and 62 from club member Collin Morikawa, who finished runner-up by a stroke.

McIlroy brought his best stuff on the weekend in ‘Sin City’ to reach 25-under and set the tournament scoring record that was part of his FedExCup winning season.

RIGHT: Rory McIlroy won a 20th PGA Tour title at this event last year. PHOTO: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

COURSE: Although a new venue for this event, its fourth in six years, Congaree Golf Club made its PGA Tour debut in 2021 when hosting the Palmetto Championship won by South Africa’s Garrick Higgo.

A Tom Fazio design that opened in 2017, the par-71 sits on a sand base with expansive bunkering and waste areas the main challenge to scoring, with the course echoing elements of links golf and the Melbourne Sandbelt depending on which reports you digest.

Measuring 7,655 yards, distance isn’t in fact natural fit when looking for an advantageous characteristic in a player likely to succeed this week. Quality ball strikers were the standout performers the last time the Tour visited, although the course will play differently compared to the height of Summer when the Palmetto Championship was contested.

Quick to earn a high reputation, Congaree impressed Adam Scott enough that he has used the facility as a practice base when spending extended periods in America away from his home in Switzerland.

PRIZEMONEY: US$10,500,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Although it is a different venue, it is hard to ignore Rory McIlroy as a chance to go back-to-back this week.

The Northern Irishman has been in great form all year and has recorded top-10s in his five most recent starts, including victory at the Tour Championship resulting in his spot as No.2 on the world rankings and chance to take top spot this week.

McIlroy has the sort of game that will suit Congaree down to the ground as he makes his first PGA Tour start of the new season having spent some time back playing the DP World Tour.

Jon Rahm is another elite ball striker in good form who returns to action after winning in his last start at the Spanish Open.

Jason Day showed some good signs recently in Las Vegas as he works to regain his best form. PHOTO: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images for The CJ Cup.

Rahm was very impressive at home when claiming his third victory at his national Open and has a habit of playing well at this time of the year.

Similarly a solid performer late in the year, Collin Morikawa has been uncharacteristically inconsistent of late and worth keeping an eye on as he attempts to rediscover the form that led to two major titles in quick succession after joining the pro ranks.

Last week Keegan Bradley broke his win drought, but Rickie Fowler had every chance to do the same after returning to work with legendary instructor Butch Harmon.

Fowler was the 54-hole leader of this event last year in Harmon’s adopted hometown of Las Vegas, while he was in the same position in Japan before finishing in runner-up, his second top-10 of late.

Given the quality of the field, there are a host of other highly credentialled players here with genuine claims to being among the favourites, including Justin Thomas, Max Homa and Tom Kim, while Jason Day will be interesting to watch after he showed some positive signs last start at the Shriners Children’s Open.

72-HOLE RECORD: 263 (Rory McIlroy, 2021)

18-HOLE RECORD (@Congaree): 64 (Wes Roach, Ryan Armour, Will Gordon 2021)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No Australian has won this event.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Cam Davis and Jason Day.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 505 6am – 9am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 6am – 9am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 6am – 9am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 505 5:30am – 8:30am)
*AEDT, check local guides